Resilient book copier clamp

ABSTRACT

A RESILIENT BOOK-COPIER CLAMP COMPRISING A LENGTH OF RESILIENT CORD TERMINATING AT EACH END THEREOF IN A COPY MACHINE CLAMP GRIP. A CLAMP RETAINER MEDIALLY POSITIONS UPON THE CORD FOR REMOVABLE ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE COPY MACHINE CONSTRUCTION AND A CLAMP PRESSURE BAR AFFIXES TO THE CORD INTERMEDIATE THE SAID CLAMP RETAINER AND END POSITIONED   CLAMP GRIPS TO EXERT PRESSURE UPON THE TOP OF A BOOK BEING COPIED WHEN THE RESILIENT CORD IS STRETCHED BETWEEN THE COPY MACHINE AFFIXED CLAMP RETAINER AND THE CLAMP GRIPS.

United States Patent {72] Inventor Louis Bentzman Levittown, Pa. [21] Appl. No. 819,767 [22] Filed Apr. 28, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Electrocopy Corporation Philadelphia, Pa.

[54] RESILIENT BOOK COPIER, CLAMP 9 Claims,4 Drawing'Figs.

{52] 11.8. CI 248/451, 248/361 [5 l] Int. Cl G03h 27/62, A47g 1/00 [50] Field of Search 248/361 (B), 441, 445, 451; 24/73 (A); 355/75, 76

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 374.386 l2/l887 Winne 248/45lX 551,256 12/1895 Brown 248/451 1,705,381 3/1929 Snyder 248/36l(A) 2,828,577 4/1958 Anderson 248/445 Primary Examiner- Frazier Roy D. Assistant Examiner-William H. Schultz Anorney- Karl L. Spivak PATENTEU JUH28 I971 SHEU 1 UF 2 INVENTOR LOUIS BENTZMAN KM a yum Z,

ATTORNEY RESILIENT BOOK COPIER CLAMP This invention relates to the general an of copying from bound volumes, more particularly, it is directed to a simple elastic clamp arrangement suitable for securing any book to a photocopy machine table during the operation wherein the original must come in close contact with a plane surface.

In copying printed materials in book form utilizing the electrostatic method of photocopying as well as in other methods of copying, it is necessary that each page to be copied be firmly pressed against the glass contract surface to thereby achieve complete, overall and uniform surface contract between the page to be copied and the glass surface. In copying average printed pages on machines which require the use of hand pressure for achieving contract, pressures in the range of pounds to 60 pounds are frequently required. When the pages being copied are wrinkled, creased or otherwise imperfect, even greater pressures may thereby be required. Inasmuch as an imperfect copy will be produced if the surface of the paper is not firmly pressed against the glass surface, excess pressure must be employed as the only way in which waste copies from failure to achieve proper contact can be avoided.

Prior workers in the art have utilized such uncomplicated methods as simply hand pressing the volume against the glass surface of the machine. Other workers have employed quite elaborate methods including utilizing spline dowels adjustable hinges and various other types of relatively complicated mechanical-pressuring systems. All of the prior hand-pressure systems suffer from the common deficiency in that there is no positive method of applying uniform pressure to the sheet being copied and the pressures applied will therefore vary from operator to operator and will even vary greatly with the same operator depending upon such common factors as fatigue, attention, health and similar factors. The mechanical systems presently available all suffer from the fact that they are relatively costly to manufacture, that they are sometimes complicated in construction and operation and also, cannot be adapted for use when copying books of more than ordinary thickness, such as 2 inches in thickness.

The present invention relates to an extremely simple, uncomplicated, inexpensive and readily employed type of book clamp. With relatively few minor modifications, the present clamp can be adapted for use with book copiers of various differcnt manufacturers.

The present invention finds particular utility in those photocopy machines wherein a scanning table is used and the book is mounted on the scanning table. In those cases where multiple copies are desired, it is necessary to keep the book suitably clamped to the table during the repeat copy cycles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved resilient book-copier clamp of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved resilient book-copier clamp that is extremely simple in construction and uncomplicated in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel resilient book-copier clamp that may be applied to an electrostatic book copier of various manufacturers with a minimum of effort and time and which is designed to apply uniform book pressure under all normal conditions of use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved resilient book-copier clamp that is inexpensive in manufacture, simple in design and trouble-free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the book-copier clamp applied to an electrostatic book copier in book-clamping posi- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the book copier clamp in clamping position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms'are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, I show a book or similar multileaved document 10 arranged upon the scanning table of a photocopy machine 12 of any suitable manufacture in copying position. The page 14 being copied applies directly against the scanning glass 16 with the book spline 18 positioned as close to the transverse machine angle 20 as possible to thereby minimize loss of photocopy coverage at the inner margin area of the book. The remainder of the book 22 rests upon the depending book table 24 which depends from the scanning glass 16 at an angle of less than in accordance with well-known practice.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, I show the resilient book copier clamp which is employed as herein disclosed to apply uniform pressure upon the book 10 to thereby bias the page 14 being copied into uniform, pressurized contact upon the surface of the scanning glass 16. A quantity of elasticized shock cord 28 of suitable length is employed for producing the required bias to facilitate the application of the necessary pressure to the book 10 for assuring uniform production of photocopies having acceptable quality of reproduction. A rubberized shock cord of Kt-inch diameter with a coefficient factor of 4 pounds per inch has been found satisfactory for the intended use. A pair of similar clamp grips 30, 32 endwardly feed on to the elasticized cord 28 through the bores 34 which are sized to loosely overfit the respective ends 36, 38 of the cord 28. A pair of hog ring-type staples 40, 42 affix to the ends of the elasticized cord 28 to prevent disengagement of the respective clamp grips 30, 32 from the ends 36, 38 of the cord 28 during all normal conditions of use. The grip bases 44, 46 engage the staples 40, 42 to thereby tension the cord 28 for book-holding purposes.

Each clamp grip 30, 32 terminates outwardly in opposed pairs of griping fingers 47, 48 and 50, 52 which are shaped to be easily grasped by the fingers of the operator or readily engage ledges, recesses, holes or other constructions 54 which may be provided conveniently along the book table 24 for cord end securing purposes. Additionally, the recesses 53 serve to engage the machine construction 54 when convenient.

The clamp retainer 56 is extruded from aluminum or other suitable rigid material to a generally L-shaped configuration having a horizontal base leg 58 and a continuous, generally vertical cord gripping leg 60 extending upwardly at right angles thereto. The leg 60 is provided intermediate its ends with a horizontally extending cord gripping construction 74 of generally circular cross section configuration to engage and retain the medial portion of the elasticized cord 28. It should be noted that the cross-sectional diameter of the construction 74 is fabricated slightly smaller than the diameter of the cord 28 itself to thereby serve to retain the clamp retainer 56 in its desired position upon the cord 28 medially intermediate its ends 36, 38. In order to affix the construction 74 of the cord leg 60 to the cord, the cord 28 is first stretched at the medial portion thereof. As is common with elasticized materials the cross section diameter of the cord will decrease as the cord elongates and thereby will reduce to a diameter less than the diameter of the cord-holding construction 74. The stretched cord portion of reduced cross section then feeds into the cord holding construction 74 through the horizontal opening 76 which is provided therein. Upon allowing the cord 28 to return to its unstretched condition, the greater natural diameter of the cord will cause the clamp retainer 56 to securely affix to the cord 28. See FIG. 4.

A clamp pressure bar 66 presses against the flexible copy platen 64 which is flexed over the book in well-known manner to thereby assure complete contact between the page 14 being copied and the copy machine scanning glass 16. The bar 66 if formed to a generally inverted T-shaped configuration having an enlarged, flattened base 68 to thereby provide a maximum area of book contact. A cord engaging member 72 transversely, medially rises above the base 68 and provides a pair of laterally spaced cord openings 70 for cord-engaging purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth. Each opening 70 transversely pierces the member 72 and is drilled to a generally cylindrical configuration having its cross-sectional diameter smaller than the non'nal diameter of the cord 28. By stretching the cord 28 at the area of pressure bar contact, the cross-sectional diameter of the cords may thereby be reduced to permit the cord to be conveniently fed through the openings 70. Upon release of the cord, it will naturally return to its unbiased diameter which is larger than the diameter of the openings 70. In this manner, the cord may be readily fed through the openings 70 to position the bar 66 in desired location upon the cord. Upon release, the greater diameter of the cord will cause the cord body to push against the cylindrical sidewalls of the openings 70 to thereby securely lock the pressure bar 66 in the desired position.

In order to utilize this invention, a book 10 is first positioned upon a photocopy machine scanning or contact printing table in open position having the page 14 to be copied in overlying relation to the scanning glass 16 and with the book's spline positioned as close as possible to the transverse machine angle 20. The remainder of the book 22 overlies the angularly depending book table 24 and rests thereupon in the usual manner. The copy-platen 64 flexes over the portion of the book 10 being copied and the flattened base 68 of the pressure bar 66 transversely pressures against the copy platen 64 thereby urging the paper 14 being copied against the scanning glass 16. The clamp retainer 56 removably affixes to the copy machine 12 by engaging the base leg 58 within the transverse machine recess 62 to securely affix the medial portion of the resilient book-copier clamp 26 in spaced relationship from the book 10. The cord ends 36, 38 with the affixed clamp grips 30, 32 are stretched outwardly and downwardly from the affixed clamp retainer 56 to thereby tension the elasticized cord 28. Either of the fingers 47, 48 or 50, 52 then engage in the securing construction 54 which is positioned upon the machine 12 at a location sufficiently distant from the machine recess 62 to thereby adequately tension the cord 28 for book-holding and page-pressing purposes. The pressure bar 66 which is positioned intermediate the clamp retainer 56 and the clamp grips 30, 32 presses downwardly upon the top of the book portion 10 being copied under urging of the stretched elasticized cord 28. It will be appreciated that the resilient book-copier clamp may be easily and rapidly positioned in pressing relation over the book by simply inserting the clamp retainer 56 within the transverse recess 62 and by stretching the ends of the cord 28 sufficiently to permit engagement of the fingers 47, or 48 and 50 or 52 upon any suitable securing construction 54 which is provided in spaced relationship from the machine recess 62.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only be way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be restored to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 1. A resilient book-copier clamp for use in copying a page of a book by utilizing a copy machine, the combination of A. an elasticized tension cord terminating outwardly in a pair of spaced ends;

B. clamp grip means respectively affixed to the said cord ends; I. said clamp grip means including machine gripping construction;

C. a clamp retainer medially os itioned upon the said cord; 1. said clamp retainer lIlC udmg cord securing construction and 2. said clamp retainer including means to secure to the said copy machine in spaced relation from the said clamp grips; and

D. a pressure bar carried upon the said cord intermediate the said ends and the said clamp grips;

l. the said elasticized cord biasing the said pressure bar against the said book for copy purposes,

2. and the said pressure bar including cord securing construction.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cord-securing construction of the said clamp retainer includes a cord-receiving opening, the said opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the said cord.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cord-securing construction of the said clamp retainer includes a cord-receiving opening, the said opening having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the cord when in a relaxed condition but larger than that of the cord when in a stretched condition.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cordsecuring construction of the said pressure barincludes a cord-receivin g opening, the said opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the said cord.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cord-securing construction of the said pressure bar includes a cord-receiving opening, the said opening having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the cord when in a relaxed condition but larger than that of the cord when in a stretched condition.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said clamp grips and the said clamp retainer afflx to portions of the said photocopy machine a distance sufficiently apart to thereby stretch the said cord therebetween to bias the pressure bar against the said book.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said pressure bar includes an elongated member of generally T-shaped configuration having a flattened base and an integral top member which positions at from the said base.

8 The invention of claim 1 wherein the said pressure bar includes an elongated member of generally T-shaped configuration having a flattened base and an integral top member which positions at 90 from the said base, the said top member being horizontally drilled to provide a pair of spaced cord-receiving openings.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said pressure bar includes an elongated member of generally T-shaped configuration having a flattened base and an integral top member which positions at 90 from the said base, the said top member being horizontally drilled to provide a pair of spaced cord-receiving openings, the said openings having a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of the said cord when in a relaxed condition, the said openings securing portions of the said cord therewithin. 

